Electrical service connector



June 2, 1953 w. B. WlNN ,5

ELECTRICAL SERVICE CONNECTOR Filed May 1, 1950 p j I 6: E r "'r INVENTOR" illy 1 KB; Vl z'rzn I V Z5 BY 9 m ATTORNEYS Patented June 2, 1953 ELECTRICAL SERVICE CONNECTOR Welton B. Winn, Muleshoe, Tex., assignor of onehalf to R. L. House, San Antonio, Tex.

Application May 1, 1950, Serial No. 159,299

1 Claim.

This invention relates to electrical service connectors.

An object of this invention is to provide an electrical connector for branch wires to a main wire which is so constructed and arrangedas to reduce the man hours normally required for such connections;

Another object of this invention is to provide a service connector which will provide an increased contact surface with the wire.

A further object of this invention is to provide a service connector embodying a series of clamping jaws which are so arranged that the wire may be pushed through the jaws in one direction so as to tighten the stretch or span of wire, but reverse pull on the wire will cause the clamping jaws to tightly grip the wire.

With the above and other objects in view, my invention consists in the arrangement, combination and details of construction disclosed in the drawings and specification, and then more particularly pointed out in the appended claim.

In the drawings:

Figure 1 is a plan view of a multiple service connector constructed according to an embodiment of this invention.

Figure 2 is a detailed side elevation of the connector.

Figure 3 is a sectional view taken on the line 3-3 of Figure 1.

Figure 4 is a fragmentary sectional view taken on the line 44 of Figure 1.

Figure 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, the numeral l0 designates generally an insulator which is mounted on a post or pin carried by a supporting arm IS. The insulator I0 is formed with annular groove I2 about which a service wire or conductor I4 is adapted to be wound for at least one turn.

A plate generally designated as 15 extends horizontally from the insulator being supported from the insulator In by means of a pair of resilient and relatively rigid bars l6 which are connected to a split ring engaging in the groove l2 and about the insulator l0. Each arm |6 as shown in Figure 3 is provided with a substantially right angular bend l8 which extends loosely through an opening or slot |9 formed in the plate l5.

Each bar l6 also includes an outwardly extending arm 20 which extends substantially right angularly from the bend or extension 18 and engagesbeneath the plate IS. The two arms I6 are inherently biased away from each other so as to be disposed in divergent relation with the arms at the opposite ends of the slot or opening [9. An insulated wire holder generally designated as 2| is supported outwardly from the arcuate outer edge 22 of plate l5 by means of a flat supporting bar 23 which is formed at its outer end with a ring 24 which is disposed about the holder or insulating member 2|.

In the present instance the holder or insulator 2| is formed with one or more steps or shoulders 25, and the band 24 engages about a cylindrical portion 26 of the insulator or holder 2|. The bar 23 is secured to the plate [5 by means of a bolt 21 which engages through a selected one of a series of radially disposed notches 28 which are formed in the outer portion of an arcuate opening or slot 29 formed through the plate Hi. There may be as many of these notches 28 as may be desired, and there may be a holder or insulator 2| associated with each notch 28.

The terminal end of the wire I4 is secured to the upper side of the plate [5 by means of a clamping clip 36 which is held in clamping position by means of a bolt 3|. The holder 2| is formed with a substantially conical bore 32 having the small end thereof outermost, and a substantially conical lining 33 engages within the conical bore 32. The inner large or base end of the lining 33 has secured thereto a base member 34 formed with a relatively large central opening 35 through which a wire 36 is adapted to loosely engage. The wire 36 is extended axially through the holder 2|, and the wire 36 is tightly gripped against outward movement by means of a plurality of wedges or wire gripping members 31 which are disposed within the lining 33. A spring 38 is disposed within the holder 2|, bearing at its inner or large end against the base 34 and bearing at its outer or small end against the large ends of the wedges or wire gripping members 31. By providing the wire clamping or gripping members 31, which are spring pressed outwardly to clamping or gripping position, the wire 36 is tightly clamped against outward movement with respect to holder 2 I. The wire 36 is extended completely through the holder 2| and is clamped to the plate I5 by means of a clamping clip 39 which is secured to the plate l5 by means of bolt 21 engaging through a selected one of the notches 28.

With a connector as hereinbefore described the wire or conductor l4 may be the main line wire, and wire 36 may be an extension service line. The plate IE will provide a means whereby a number of service lines 36 may be easily and quickly connected with the main line 14 without soldering, twisting or otherwise securing the service lines 26 to the main line l4. Any outward pull on the wire 26 will be prevented by means of the clamping and wedging members 37. In this manner the clip 39 will not be under any undue strain from the weight or other pull of the service wire 36. In mounting the wire 36 in the holder 21 the wire is passed through the holder 2! from the small outer end thereof. When the wire 36 engages the outer ends of the wedges and clamping members 37, these members will be pushed inwardly to a released position against the action of the spring 38.

The wire 36 can be freely passed to the left through the holder 21 but outward movement to the right as viewed in Figures 1, 2, and 3 will be prevented by the wedging or gripping members 37 tightly gripping the surface of the wire 36. If desired, the inner faces of the wedging members 3'! may be ribbed or serrated so as to bite into the peripheral surface of the service wire 36.

What is claimed is: I p

A wire connector comprising a segmental terminal plate formed with an elongated opening, means engaging in said opening for supporting said plate in substantially horizontal position, said 4 plate also having a second elongated arcuate opening formed with spaced radial notches extending from the outer edge of said second opening, a wire holder comprising a body formed with a tapered bore whereby a Wire may be extended therethrough, a bar fixed to said holder and secured to one side of said plate, clamp means engaging through a selected notch securing said bar and end of the wire to said plate, and tapered gripping members in said body springbiased toward the narrow end thereof and clampingly engaging a wire extended through said bore outwardly of the secured end thereof for holding the Wire against outward movement and relieving the secured end of the wire against pulling strain from the wire.

WELTON B. WINN.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,213,211 Klauber et al Jan. 23, 1917 1,759,591 Pleister et a1. May 20, 1930 1,797,599 Allenbaugh Mar. 24, 1931 2,180,977 Cook Nov. 21, 1939 2,499,707 Whitman et a1. Mar. 7, 1950 

